Is the RP Funding Center getting a new name? The city of Lakeland is currently negotiating naming rights for the performing arts/sports/convention center that opened as The Lakeland Civic Center in 1974, morphed into The Lakeland Center in 1996 and was rechristened as RP Funding Center in 2017.
Category: Sports
Posted inSchools, Sports
Polk Schools Consider Offering More Sports, Especially for Girls
Polk County Public Schools is considering adding four sports to its lineup to stem a decline in girls sports participation.
Posted inPeople, Sports
Video Showing LPD Officer Andrea Smith’s Basketball Skills Goes Viral
Before Andrea Smith became a Lakeland police officer, she was a standout basketball player at Lake Gibson High School, Gulf Coast Community College and the University of South Florida. A video of her demonstrating her basketball skills in a 1-on-1 game with a local teen has gone viral on social media, Bay News 9 reports.
Posted inSports
Documentary Explores LHS 2006 Squeaker Victory Over St. Thomas Aquinas
Was the 2006 state title game between Lakeland High School and St. Thomas Aquinas (the Dreadnaughts won 45-42 in double overtime) the greatest high school football games ever? CBS and MaxPreps argue it might have been in a 16-minute documentary titled “The greatest game ever: Game of inches.” Keep scrolling to see the film:
Posted inEvents, Sports
Tigers, Orioles Cancel Today’s Final Spring Training Game
Today’s MLB Spring Training finale in Lakeland has been cancelled. The 1:05 p.m. game at Joker Marchant Stadium was cancelled in a mutual decision by the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles because of a lack of available pitchers. Those who purchased tickets via the Tigers will be refunded. (Call the box office at 863-686-8075 or […]
Posted inSports
Detroit Tigers’ Abbreviated Spring Training Schedule Starts March 18
The Detroit Tigers’ Spring Training schedule, reduced to 19 games from the 33 scheduled before the players’ lockout, starts March 18 with a home game at Joker Marchant Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Posted inSports
Tigers Fans Starting to Get Ticket Refunds as Start of Spring Training is Delayed Again
As labor negotiations delay the start of MLB Spring Training again — this time until at least March 11 — officials at Tigertown remain hopeful that the Detroit Tigers will ultimately play games here; but some disappointed fans are starting to get refunds for their tickets, News Channel 8 reports.
Posted inSchools, Sports
Lakeland Christian Girls Soccer Team Wins 2nd Straight State Title
The Lakeland Christian School Vikings girls soccer team won its second straight state 3A championship, With a 2-1 win over the Benjamin School Buccaneers. The Vikings’ first goal was scored by junior Kaelyn Diaz, who leads the team in scoring, 10 Tampa Bay reports. Source: 10 Tampa Bay
Posted inSports
Tigers Open Minor League Minicamp Games to Fans as MLB Delays Spring Training Play
Fans can attend Detroit Tigers minor league minicamp games in Lakeland for free starting Monday, the team announced Friday evening, according to the Detroit Free Press. Earlier in the day, MLB disclosed that the start of major league Spring Training games will be delayed until at least March 5, a week later than originally scheduled. […]
Posted inBusiness, Sports
Spring Training Delay Worries Local Businesses
Lakeland businesses are worried about the financial impact of a stunted 2022 Detroit Tigers Spring Training season, News Channel 8 reports. The Tigers are scheduled to play their first game in Lakeland eight days from now, but the team’s 40 roster players are still locked out by MLB owners over collective bargaining differences. Nevertheless, minicamp […]